Anti-slipping attachment for crutches and canes



July 16, 1957 w. c. WAGNER 2,799,287

ANTI-SLIPPING ATTACHMENT FOR CRUTCHES AND CANES Filed Jan. .16. 1956 INVENTOR. Wafieri Wag/2e]; BY

PM J- PM ATTORNEYS.

Uniwdsw am'Q 2.199.2 7 p ANTI-SLIPPING ATTACHMENT non :cnurcrnrs I CAN Walter-C. -Wagner, A-rdrnore, Pa. wean Januar -.1 9 Sarah-Nasal! 7 Claj m s. c1.,-1s,5- s4).

This invention relatesto an anti-slip attachment for the tip of a crutch, cane, or the like. I

A wide van'ety of,de vices have. been patented which have the object of preventing slipping of the ends of crutches, can sand thelike .when such articles are used on a slippery surface. These objects ,have been in considerable demand-because persons requiringitheQnSe of crutches or canes have heretofore considered it unsafe to venture outdoors in snowy or icy weather. 'However, the anti-slip devices currently available are subject to serious drawbacks and disadvantages, as will further become apparent.

Some of the devices of the prior art are permanently attached to the cane or crutch, and are accordingly limited to more or less continuous or permanent use. It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an antislip attachment of the character indicated, which (is readily detachable, from any crutch or cane, and which may readily be carried in the users pocket when it is not in use. It is accordingly still another object of this invention to provide a readily detachable anti-slip device which has a minimum of bulk and which does not damage the users pocket when it is so carried.

Other anti-slip devices of the prior art are susceptible to packing of ice or snow under the base surface thereof, such packing being extremely dangerous and subjecting the user to the possibility of a dangerous fall. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide an anti-slip device which is not subject to packing of ice or snow and which is not susceptible to damage when used for its intended purpose. f

Other devices of the prior art are limited to the use of crutch tips having flat bottoms. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a device of this type which can be used with crutch tips having rounded ends.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device which has no projecting parts when it is attached to the tip of a cane or crutch, and will therefore not catch on objects which might be contacted during the course of the normal and intended use of the anti-slip attachment. Still another object is to provide an anti-slip attachment of the character indicated, which closely envelops the sides and bottom of the tip of the crutch or cane, and which cradles such tip in such a way that there can be no relative movement between the attachment and the tip. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention, including the simplicity and economy of construction and the small number of parts, as well as the strength of the parts and their connections, will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 represents a view in perspective of one specific Figure- =1 -attac hed tothe usual tip .of a'crutch cream;

nd a v:Figre r s nts 'a vi w ng rsp ai s m l t s11 wing how the anti-slip attachment is secured with respect t o the tip of a crutch oncane.

.to and depending from the base plate are a plurality 'ing arms 1?, which are inclined slightly inwardly toward one another forming -acradle 14 above the base plate and intermediate the arms 13. )The number 15 designates a pivoted arm which 'is'silnilar to .the three arms 13, but

which is pivoted at 16 to the base plate 10. Fixed at '2010 one of'the'three arms "13 is a strap 19 having a are arranged to fit on pegs 23 'fixed on arms "13, 15.

The traction teeth 12 have the form of flat metal plates, the surfaces of such plates being broad and inclined outwardly relative to the central axis of the antislip attachment, such axis being perpendicular to the plane of base plate 10. The traction'teeth 12 have rounded lower contours 25 having a wider curvature at the tip 26 than at the sides 27, which are relatively sharply curved.

In use, the anti-slip attachment may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. l, and the tip of a crutch or cane inserted into the cradle area 14. The pivoted arm 15 is then swung upwardly about its pivot to the position illusform of anti-slip attachment constructed in accordance trated in Fig. -2, contacting the rubber tip T of the crutch or cane C. To complete the connection, the strap 19 is trained around the upper ends of the arms 13, 15 with each peg 23 extending through the corresponding hole 22. The strap is secured to its buckle 21, creating a firm and strong connection between the attachment and the tip.

The anti-slip attachment can readily be removed from the tip by reversing the operations just described, and it may easily be kept in the users pocket or in any other convenient place when not in use. It is not bulky, and the rounded contours of the traction teeth assure that the anti-slip attachment will not cause damage.

The shape of the traction teeth is also of importance in providing excellent traction on slippery surfaces of different kinds. The resistance to slipping is exceedingly good, whether the surface be hard snow, loose snow, ice, or mixtures of ice, water, or snow.

The anti-slip attachment shown and described herein is not susceptible to damage in use, and has no projecting parts to catch on objects While in the course of its normal and intended use. Moreover, the device has a simplicity and ruggedness of construction which is of vital importance when it is considered that the safety of a handicapped person is involved.

It is important to observe that anti-slip attachments of this invention may be used in conjunction with crutch tips having either fiat or rounded bottom surfaces. A rounded tip end extends downwardly into and possibly through the circular central opening 11, thereby forming a central base connection which rigidifies the crutch or cane tip T with respect to the anti-slip attachment and prevents relative movement of the two. Whether the end of the tip be rounded or fiat, the anti-slip attachment closely envelops the sides and bottom of the tip, and this is an important and advantageous feature of this invention.

Although this invention has been described with referscopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. An anti-slip attachment for the usual generally C0111- cal tip of a crutch or the like, comprising means forming a substantially fiat generally circular base plate, a

plurality of traction teeth depending at spaced points from the peripheral edge of said base plate, a plurality f -of substantially equally spaced arms fixed to and extend ing upwardly from said base plate and inclined slightly toward one another, thereby forming a cradle above the base plate for said crutch tip, another similar arm pivoted to said base plate for swinging movement up and down toward and away from a position corresponding to the positions of said similar fixed arms, and fastening means engageable with said fixed arms and said pivoted arm to secure said pivoted arm in a substantially upright position.

2. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 1, wherein the base plate has a substantially central circular opening to accommodate a crutch tip having a curved or rounded, as well as a flat, bottom.

3. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 1, wherein said fastening means includes a strap and buckle.

4. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 3 wherein said strap has spaced holes and wherein said arms have pegs arranged to extend through said holes when the strap is applied to the arms.

5. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 1, wherein the teeth consist essentially of fiat metal plates each inclined downwardly outwardly away from the base plate, the lower extremities of the teeth being beyond the outer periphery of said base plate.

6. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 5, wherein each tooth has a rounded lower contour.

7. The anti-slip attachment defined in claim 6, wherein each tooth has a wider curvature at its tip than at its sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,596,832 Heinemann Aug. 17, 1926 1,995,975 Fleschutz Mar. 26, 1935 2,631,597 Phinney Mar. 17, 1953 2,703,094 Speck Mar. 1, 1955 

